HERPETOFAUNA OF THE NATURA 2000 SITE CHEILE ȘUGĂULUI-MUNTICELU (ROSCI0033), ROMANIA

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1 HERPETOFAUNA OF THE NATURA 2000 SITE CHEILE ȘUGĂULUI-MUNTICELU (ROSCI0033), ROMANIA Raluca MELENCIUC 1, 2, Alexandru STRUGARIU 3,*, Paul C. DINCĂ 1, 2, Iulian GHERGHEL 2, 4 and Ștefan R. ZAMFIRESCU 1, 2 1 Faculty of Biology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza Univeristy of Iași, Carol I Blvd. Nr. 20A, Iași, Romania. 2 Moldavica Herpetological Group, Carol I Blvd. Nr. 20A, Iași, Romania. 3 Research Department, Faculty of Biology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza Univeristy of Iași, Carol I Blvd. Nr. 20A, Iași, Romania. 4 Department of Zoology, Oklahoma State Univerity, 501 Life Sciences West, 74078, Stillwater, OK, USA. * corresponding author, alex.strugariu@gmail.com Abstract. In this paper we present the results of a herpetological faunistic study conducted in the Natura 2000 site ROSCI0033 Cheile Șugăului-Munticelu, situated at the western limit of Neamț County, in the Eastern Carpathian Mountains. Based on field surveys conducted during June-August 2015, we report the presence and map the local distribution of four species of amphibians (Salamandra salamandra, Bombina variegata, Bufo bufo, Rana temporaria) and seven species of reptiles (Anguis colchica, Lacerta agilis, Zootoca vivipara, Podarcis murlais, Coronella austriaca, Natrix natrix, Vipera berus). Two other amphibian species (Triturus cristatus and Lissotriton montandoni) were also listed in the standard data form of the Natura 2000 site, but were not confirmed by our survey. Overall, our study reveals a greater number of species of herpetofauna than previously listed, and we recommend that the site s standard data form to be updated in order to reflect the known situation. Keywords: reptiles, amphibians, Carpathian Mountains, Neamț County, standard data form. Rezumat. Herpetofauna sitului Natura 2000 Cheile Șugăului-Munticelu (ROSCI0033), România. În această lucrare prezentăm rezultatele unui studiu herpetologic realizat in situl Natura 2000 ROSCI0033 Cheile Șugăului-Munticelu, localizat la limita vestică a Județului Neamț, în Carpații Orientali. În baza cercetărilor ce au avut loc în perioada Iunie August 2015, raportăm prezența a patru specii de amfibieni (Salamandra salamandra, Bombina variegata, Bufo bufo, Rana temporaria) și a șapte specii de reptile (Anguis colchica, Lacerta agilis, Zootoca vivipara, Podarcis murlais, Coronella austriaca, Natrix natrix, Vipera berus). Alte două specii de amfibieni (Triturus cristatus și Lissotriton montandoni) se regăsesc în formularul standard al sitului, dar noi nu am putut confirma prezența acestora. Studiul nostru evidențiază prezența unui număr mai mare de specii în sit decât cele enumerate anterior, de aceea recomandăm actualizarea formularului standard, pentru a reflecta situația reală. Cuvinte cheie: reptile, amfibieni, Carpații Orientali, Județul Neamț, formular standard. Introduction The Carpathians represents the largest mountain chain of Central Europe, measuring approx km in length, the largest part of the mountain chain being in Romania (approx. 52.9%). The Carpathians comprise numerous natural environments rich in habitat types and wildlife (Oszlányi et al., 2004; Bălteanu et al., 2008). The Carpathians host several endemic amphibian taxa (Lissotriton montandoni and L. vulgaris ampelensis) as well as large and widespread populations of species that are internationally endangered and facing rapid decline (e.g. Bombina variegata) (e.g. Cogălniceanu et al. 2013a). The Natura 2000 site Cheile Șugăului-Munticelu (ROSCI0033) represents a protected natural area located at the western limit of Neamț County, in the Hășmaș Mountains. The importance of this site resides in the abundance of endangered plant species, such as Cypripedium calceolus, Campanula serata, Iris aphyla ssp. hungarica

2 Raluca Melenciuc et al. (Rugină & Mititiuc, 2003; Chifu et al., 2006) However, so far, no reptiles and only three species of amphibians are listed in the Natura 2000 site s standard data form (Bombina variegata, Triturus cristatus and Lissotriton (Triturus) montandoni), despite the existing records of numerous other species in the immediate vicinity of the area (Gherghel & Ile, 2006; Ghiurcă & Gherghel, 2007; Gherghel et al., 2008a, b). We thus aimed to conduct a more detailed investigation into the composition and distribution of the amphibian and reptile fauna from the studied area. Material and Methods The study area comprises the Cheile Șugăului-Munticelu Natura 2000 site and its immediate vicinities, located in the Hășmaș massif of the Eastern Carpathians, on the administrative territory of Bicaz Chei and Bicazu Ardelean communes (Figure 1), with an altitude range between m (mean 1020 m). The area is included in the alpine biogeographical region of Romania (Petrișor, 2008). Field surveys were conducted during June-August 2015 with a frequency of 3 days per month. We made observations along transect surveys as well as active searches in 20 investigation sites (Figure 1). Each individual observed was morphologically identified using adequate literature (Fuhn, 1960; Fuhn & Vancea, 1961; Cogălniceanu et al., 2000), located (using Garmin handled GPS devices) and photographed. If individuals required capture for identifications, they were captured by hand and released into their habitat of origin immediately after determination. Results and Discussion During our surveys in the Cheile Șugăului-Munticelu Natura 2000 site, we recorded four species of amphibians (Salamandra salamandra, Bombina variegata, Bufo bufo, Rana temporaria) and seven species of reptiles (Anguis colchica, Lacerta agilis, Zootoca vivipara,, Coronella austriaca, Natrix natrix, Vipera berus) (Table 1, Appendix 1). In some of the investigation sites we found individuals of Bombina variegata, one of the species for the site was designated, at the site limit (4, 8) or even outside the site (3, 5, 6, 19) (Figure 1). All the species identified in our field surveys are protected at national level by the OUG 57/2007, but also at international level by Directive 92/43 EEC 1 annexe. Some of the species are also included in the Red list of Vertebrates of Romania (Salamandra salamandra, Bombina variegata, Bufo bufo, Rana temporaria, Anguis colchica, Coronella austriaca, Vipera berus) (Iftime, 2005). Only three species of amphibians are listed (Bombina variegata, Triturus cristatus, Lissotriton (Triturus) montandoni) in the standard data form of the site, but our survey confirms the presence of only one them (B. variegata). We suspect that the two newt species are indeed absent or very rare in the area, due to the lack of proper habitats. Both species typically require permanent or temporary clear water bodies with a rich vegetation on the shores (Fuhn, 1960), habitat types which were quite uncommon in our study area, especially due to the general steep relief that doesn t allow the formation of ponds. Nevertheless, the period in which we conducted our survey (June-August) is not ideal for detecting either newt species (Fuhn, 1960) and, as such, additional studies are required in order to confirm/infirm the presence of this two species in the area

3 Figure 1. Localisation of the investigation site ROSCI0033 Cheile Șugăului-Munticelu

4 Raluca Melenciuc et al. Table 1. Geographical coordinates of the investigation sites and the species of amphibians and reptiles identified in ROSCI0033 Cheile Șugăului-Munticelu. The numbers correspond to the ones in Figure 2. Site Coordinates Habitat type Species found Temporary pounds with clear water Bombina variegata (Linnaeus, 1758) logs Zootoca vivipara (von Jacquin, 1787) grassland, temporary ponds, and logs Semi-open swampy area with temporary ponds Forest border with small ponds, and rivulet with clear water grasslands and permanent ponds Grasslands in an open area Swampy area with temporary ponds Open area with grasslands and temporary ponds Coniferous forest border Temporary pounds with clear water Open area with scattered Road Temporary pounds with clear water Lacerta agilis (Linnaeus, 1758), Zootoca vivipara, Anguis colchica (Nordmann, 1840), Bufo bufo (Linnaeus, 1758), Bombina variegata, Rana temporaria (Linnaeus, 1758), Coronella austriaca (Laurenti, 1768) Bombina variegata Rana temporaria, Bombina variegata, Zootoca vivipara Rana temporaria, Bombina variegata Vipera berus (Linnaeus, 1758) Natrix natrix (Linnaeus, 1758), Bombina variegata Lacerta agilis, Rana temporaria Natrix natrix Bombina variegata Anguis colchica Anguis colchica (Laurenti, 1768), Natrix natrix, Salamandra salamandra (Linnaeus, 1758) Bombina variegata

5 Our study represents the first herpetological investigation strictly from Cheile Șugăului-Munticelu area. All the species recorded were reported before by several studies in the surrounding areas (Fuhn, 1960; Fuhn & Vancea, 1961; Ghiurcă et al., 2005; Gherghel & Ilie, 2006; Gherghel et al., 2008a, b; Cogălniceanu et al., 2013a, b). The two newt species are reported from other sites in Neamț County, such as Cheile Bicazului Hășmaș (ROSCI0027), which is located in the immediate vicinity of the study area, the Goșmani Mountains (ROSCI0152) and Vânători Neamț Natural Park, both located at about 300 km East (Ghiurcă et al., 2005; Gherghel & Ilie, 2006; Gherghel et al., 2008a). Overall, our study indicates that the Natura 2000 site Cheile Șugăului-Munticelu is inhabited by a greater number of amphibian and reptile species than mentioned in the standard data form. A very similar situation was recently described for another Natura 2000 site from the Eastern Carpathians (ROSCI0212 Rarău-Giumalău; Zamfirescu et al., 2016) and similar discrepancies are certainly more widespread throughout Romania (unpublished data). We thus recommend that the standard data form be updated according to the results of our survey. Furthermore, we recommend conducting similar faunistical inventories for all sites for which no recent field data exists, as the standard data forms represent the foundation for all financial efforts towards monitoring and preserving the biodiversity of Natura 2000 sites (Hoffmann & Hoffman-Berei, 2014). For some sites, simply comparing the data available in the relevant literature for that particular area to the information comprised in the standard data form could offer initial insight into possible discrepancies in qualitative data (e.g. Melenciuc 2014 MSc Thesis). Conclusions During our surveys in Natura 2000 site ROSCI0033 Cheile Șugăului-Munticelu, we have identified four species of apmhibians (Salamadra salamandra, Bufo bufo, Bombina variegata, Rana temporaria) and seven species of reptiles (Anguis colchica, Lacerta agilis, Zootoca vivipara,, Coronella austriaca, Natrix natrix and Vipera berus (Appendix 1). Except for Bombina variegata, none of the aforementioned species are included in the standard data form. Two other amphibian species (Lissotriton montandoni and Triturus cristatus) that are mentioned in the standard data form have not been recorded during our survey, and we suspect that they are either absent or particularly rare. Our study contributes to underlying the trend that information contained in standard data forms for Romanian Natura 2000 sites frequently differ to reports clearly based on field evidence. References Bălteanu, D., Dincă, A. I., Surugiu, C., Dumitrașcu, M., Micu, D., Felciuc, M., Ecoturism and environmental change in the Romanian Carpathians. Global Environ Res Ecotour Global Change, 12(2): Chifu, T., Mânzu, C., Zamfirescu, O, Flora și vegetația Moldovei, Ed. Universitatii,,Al.I. Cuza" Iași, vol. I. Cogălniceanu, D., Aioanei, F., Bogdan, M., Amfibieni din România. Determinator. Ed. Ars Docendi, București. Cogălniceanu, D., Székely, P., Samoilă, C., Iosif, R., Tudor, M., Plăișaru, R., Stănescu, F., Rozylowicz, L., 2013a. Diverity and distribution of amphibians in Romania. ZooKeys. 296: Cogălniceau, D., Rozylowicz, L., Székely, P., Samoilă, C., Stănescu, F., Tudor, M., Székely, D., Iosif, R., 2013b. Diversity and distribution of reptiles in Romania. ZooKeys. 341: Fuhn, I., Amphibia. Fauna RPR, XIV, Fasc. 1, Ed. Academiei R.P.R., București

6 Raluca Melenciuc et al. Fuhn, I., Vancea, Ș., Reptilia (Țestoase, Șopîrle, Șerpi). Fauna R.P.R, 14, Fasc. 2., Ed. Academiei R.P.R, București. Gherghel, I., Ilie, R.D., Contribution to the distribution of Amphibia, Caudata in Neamț County, Romania. North-Western Journal of Zoology. 2(1): Gherghel, I., Strugairu, A., Ghiurcă, D., Ciorot-Lucaciu, A.Ș., 2008b. The herpetofauna of the Bistrița river basin (Romania): geographical distribution. North-Western Journal of Zoology, 4 (Supplement 1): S71-S103. Gherghel, I., Strugariu, A., Pricop, E., Zamfirescu, S., 2008a. The Northem Goșmani Mountains (Romania): An important herpetofaunal area requiering urgent protection. Herpetologica Romanica, 2: Ghiurcă, D., Roșu, S., Gherghel, I., Preliminary data concerning the herpetofauna in Neamt County (Romania). Analele Universității Oradea, Fascicula Biologie, Tom. XII: Guvernul României, Ordonanța de urgență nr. 57/2007 privind regimul ariilor naturale protejate, conservarea habitatelor naturale, a florei și faunei sălbatice, Monitorul Oficial al României, , 442. Hoffmann, R., Hoffmann-Berei, I., Preliminary data on the bat fauna from Carei Plain natural protected area, Romania. North-Western Journal of Zoology, 10(Supplement 1): S27-S32. Iftime, A., Reptilia, Amphibia. In Botnatriuc, N., Tatole, V., (Eds.), Cartea roșie a vertebratelor din România, Curtea Veche Publishing House, București. IUCN: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, Version , accesed Oszlányi, J., Grodzinska, K., Badea, O., Shparyk, Y., Nature conservation in Central and Eastern Europe with a special emphasis on the Carpathian Mountains. Environmental Pollution, 130: Petrișor, A.I., Levels of biological diveristy: a spatial approach to assessment methods. Romanian review of regional studies. IV(1): Rugină, R., Mititiuc, M., Plante ocrotite în România. Ed. Univ. Al. I. Cuza Iași Zamfirescu, Ș.R., Strugariu, A., Dincă, P.C., Gherghel, I., An uptadated distribution of the herpetofauna from the Natura 2000 site Rarău-Giumalău (ROSCI0212), Romania. Memoris of the Scientific Sections of the Romanian Academy. Tome XXXIX: ***, Formularul standard Natura 2000 ROSCI0033 Cheile Șugăului-Munticelu, accesed

7 Appendix 1. Species encountered in the Cheile Șugăului-Munticelu (ROSCI0033) site: a - Bombina variegata pond; b - Bombina variegata; c - Anguis colchica; d - Lacerta agilis; e - Zootoca vivipara; f - ; g - Coronella austriaca; h - Natrix natrix